A Clockwork
Orange Synopsis. A Clockwork Orange (based on the Anthony Burgess novel) is set in the not too distant
future and revolves around a vicious gang leader by the name of Alex.
He spends his days avoiding school, listening to music, and going out
wearing his ultra fashion clothes. By night he and his gang (or droogs)
go out drinking to sharpen themselves up, and then commence committing "ultra
violence" (beating
people up / robbery / sexual assault / stealing cars etc). Later on Alex
is attacked by his gang of droogs whilst out on a robbery, and he is
left to be picked up by the police. He is found guilty of a murder that
he committed during the robbery and is sentenced to a long time in jail.
During his time in jail he hears about a revolutionary new treatment
for violent criminals, which is basically an aversion therapy designed
so that, if a person should think of acting violently they will suffer
a crippling paralysing nausea which means they would not be able to act
violently. Seeing this as a way to get out of prison quickly Alex is
the first person to go through the treatment and is released from jail.
Unfortunately it is a harsh world he rejoins and some of the people he
has attacked in the past meet him again and due to the treatment he is
unable to defend himself. How will Alex survive in the world he helped
to shape.

Review ofA
Clockwork Orange. A Clockwork Orange
is an absolute masterpiece but has always been deemed a very controversial
film. It was withdrawn from general release in the UK by its director
Stanley Kubrick (not banned as many believe) and was only then released
in the after his death. Strangely during this time it was available throughout
the rest of the world (and in many places with a 15 rating). This films
reputation as a violent horror movie is not really justified. True there
are unpleasant scenes in the film, but the violence is not gratuitous
per se and wouldn't be considered hugely shocking if judged by the violence
in films today. One of the few minor grumbles about the film is the ending
which is left quite enigmatically and sadly does not include the final
chapter of the book (which actually is where the message of the story
is to be found). So although the story doesn't exactly follow the book,
Kubrick did a fantastic job of keeping true to its spirit i.e. the humour,
the brutality (of the individual and the state) and the soundtrack is
brought to life absoultely amazingly.

The reasons
I recommend A Clockwork
Orange are:1.This
is one of the most beautifully shot films you will ever see. 2. This
story could have been written with Malcolm McDowell in mind (in fact
I would suggest that many of his roles use much of Alex's influences). 3. The
story is pure gold. 4. The soundtrack of classical
music played on synthesizer by Walter / Wendy Carlos is fantastic.